I know the phrase is "went down like a lead balloon"
But lead balloons go down quite easily really. It's going up that they struggle with.

Your mum goes down quite easily too, but she struggles with going... Nah, I've lost it now.
(Thor McLegend FUCK SHITPANTS PAC MAN, Fri 23 Aug 2013, 13:24, 13 replies)

The original phrase was an ironic 'went up like a lead balloon'
the merging with the phrase 'go over' or 'go down' happened later.

/FASCINATING

Also, my mum has MS so it's the getting back up afterwards which is tricky.
( Dr. Shambolic je suis charlie, Fri 23 Aug 2013, 13:44, closed)

Yes. Went down meaning was received.
Of course a lead balloon could not actually go down. You couldn't burst it.
Tl. Don't bother, it's crap.
( edjogs Collared doves are shit., Fri 23 Aug 2013, 13:49, closed)

I never thought of it that way.
I suppose 'received like a lead balloon' doesn't sound as good.
(Thor McLegend FUCK SHITPANTS PAC MAN, Fri 23 Aug 2013, 13:56, closed)

I prefer the original saying.
People should start using that.
(Thor McLegend FUCK SHITPANTS PAC MAN, Fri 23 Aug 2013, 13:56, closed)

This is not just any fall over,

( drimble he'd been white, he'd been black, Fri 23 Aug 2013, 18:59, closed)

I just snorted expensive madeira out of my nose you prick

(AWESOMEB0T meddling prick, Fri 23 Aug 2013, 23:08, closed)

I always thought
it as more of a metaphor for a joke being like a balloon that floats up, but this particular bad pun made the balloon thud to the ground.

Or something similar, I've never tried to put it into words before but you get the image I'm trying to portray...
(Mr_Lew, Fri 23 Aug 2013, 15:54, closed)

I suppose if you raised it to a height and then dropped it, then it would go down quickly, with a potential 'thud'?

...

Nope, still doesn't really make sense.
(Dr Doctor Can't you see I'm burning burning?, Fri 23 Aug 2013, 16:07, closed)

even though dr dullbollocks explained it three hours ago?
this place really is a magnet for slow learners
(alright alright, Fri 23 Aug 2013, 16:16, closed)

Yep, I'm the big loser here
because I have a life and don't trawl endlessly over every post.

Endlessly.

Celebrate your internet victory with an internet cognac
(Dr Doctor Can't you see I'm burning burning?, Fri 23 Aug 2013, 18:31, closed)

this is your third active account, weepy
you clearly don't have a life at all
(alright alright, Fri 23 Aug 2013, 18:56, closed)

A small victory in one way:
there's at least three users who aren't baldmonkey
( drimble he'd been white, he'd been black, Fri 23 Aug 2013, 19:13, closed)

only 80 thousand to go

(alright alright, Fri 23 Aug 2013, 19:15, closed)